And because of his early struggles, Devin McCourty became the Poster Child for the poor play in the secondary while suffering through a rough sophomore season. (According to Nuggetpalooza, McCourty yielded 1,115 receiving yards last year, second-most in the NFL -- Green Bay’s Tramon Williams allowed 1,120 -- and the most by a Patriots player since they began tracking the stat 17 years ago.)

In 2012, McCourty may have been the victim of unrealistic expectations. On the heels of a rookie year where he was second-team All Pro, he was frequently left without much safety help at the start of the 2011 season. McCourty was on an island against two of the league’s elite wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Vincent Jackson. He was clearly not ready for the big stage as a shutdown corner, and it showed in those two games. Subsequently, it took some time for him to get his confidence back. That, combined with some late-season injuries, took its toll on McCourty’s game.

This summer, McCourty appears to have regained that level of confidence, and it’s showed. After playing both corner and safety at the end of the 2011 regular season and into the playoffs, he’s been used almost exclusively at corner throughout the spring and summer. He’s gone toe-to-toe on several occasions with Brandon Lloyd -- where he has looked competitive -- while working mostly as the lead corner with the starting defense.

While it’s still too early to try and figure out if he’s on the right track -- and making sure to point out there has been some good as well as bad through the first week-plus of camp -- it certainly appears he’s in a better place than he was last year.

“I wouldn’t say happy -- I still feel like it’s a process,” he said when asked whether or not he’s happy with where he is at this point on the calendar. “I have to keep getting better. Like I said, myself and as a [secondary], we’ve made some plays that we should make out there. We’ve corrected some things, and there are still some things we need to do better.”

As a group, McCourty says that the New England secondary has entered the 2012 season with a singular focus and vision.

“I think guys are focusing on doing the right thing,” McCourty said after Monday morning’s two-hour practice session. “Not focusing on what everyone else is talking about. Not focusing on trying to prove something. But just doing the right thing. Being in the right place and making plays.

“Last year is over -- [in 2011, there was] some good, some bad. Whatever that is, it’s over for us. And now, I think the focus is on this team and this year, and as a secondary. we’re trying to be there for this defense and be a big part of it.”

Entering his third season in the league, McCourty is one of the team's senior corners (only safety Patrick Chung and corner Kyle Arrington have more experience in New England in the defensive backfield), and he has slowly been able to expand his role as a leader. While McCourty is reticent to say that he’s stepped fully into a leadership role, he does find ways to help some of the new guys.

“I think the biggest thing for me is to use the amount I’ve had in my short career to help the other guys out,” he said. “A lot of the defense, I’ve been out there playing. I’ve heard [the terminology] now for three years. I try to help the younger guys out -- guys who have only been here a year and haven’t heard it as much. [I’m] just trying to give them more knowledge and let them know some of my game experience.

“But I think those guys have done a great job just learning and being able to get thrown in there. It’s like we’ve all been playing together a while now,” he added. “A guy like Steve [Gregory] and Will [Allen], who have played a lot of years in this league, I think it was kind of easier for them to just learn, and then use a lot of their football knowledge to fit in well. I think the rookies have been doing a great job just studying and being able to be out there and show their talents and show why they were picked here and drafted here and signed here.”

Fundamentally, the Patriots’ secondary is a long way from the one that ended the 2011 season. They’ve made several additions at defensive back, both in the draft (Tavon Wilson, Nate Ebner, Alfonzo Dennard) and in free agency (Gregory, Allen, Marquice Cole). The depth has been built to such a point that it seems unlikely that New England will force part-timers and converts into the regular rotation at defensive back.

“We’re defensive guys,” McCourty said. “We’re proud of what we do, and I don’t think our attitude has changed that much from last year. We’re not happy with giving up touchdowns or having a high-powered offense win games. That’s not what we’re here for.

“I think guys have a changed attitude from last year, and guys will continue to just get better and focus on what we have to do. As a secondary, we know that’s a big part of defense throughout the league. For this team to play well defensively, we know we have to play well.”

Greg and Chris talk with Mike Reiss from ESPN Boston in hour 2 of NFL Sunday to discuss a variety of offseason happenings with the Pats and throughout the league. Greg and Chris also get into the NFL Draft and where Mariota and Winston will go.

Mike Reiss calls the guys to talk about the offseason news for the Pats. He talks about the Pats/Jets tampoering fiasco, free agency, where he sees Ridley and Connolly ending up, if the Patriots would be interested in Reggie Wayne and more.

In the first hour of the show, Greg and Chris discuss the news coming out of the owners' meetings this week and rule changes. Belichick's blow-up over the league not wanting to spend on endzone cameras was well documented and the guys react. They also talk about the Jets ridiculous tampering charges, free agents still lingering out there, where Stevan Ridley will land and the RB position in New England. Dickerson and Price briefly discuss the adventures of Tom Brady before being joined by WEEI.com's Mike Petraglia to talk all things Pats in the offseason.

Flannery joins Mut to break down the Isaiah Thomas trade to Boston and what it means for the Celtics this season and in the future. Paul also chats with Mut about the other deals that happened at the NBA's trading deadline

Mut, Tomase, and Bradford kick things off talking about Shane Victorino taking offense to people reading into some comments he made about trading for Cole Hamels. They also discuss Blake Swihart and how soon he could be up if Christian Vazquez starts the season on the DL.

Joe Kelly joined the Hot Stove show where he talked about being ready for his next spring training start after a biceps ailment forced him out of his last outing, he talks about his NCAA brackets and how teammate Wade Miley has a perfect bracket still.

Peter Chiarelli joined the Sunday Skate crew to talk about the Bruins playoff push heading into the final handful of games of the regular season. Chiarelli talked about avoiding some of the overly negative feedback he gets while realizing that the team does have real issues. He discusses what went down at the trade deadline and if he was happy with the outcome, Lucic having a down year and underperforming, the salary cap and if he considers it as big of an issue as it's been made out to be and what the future holds for the team.

It's a big hour #2 for the Sunday Skate dudes - they talk about the B's defenseman and what the future looks like at that position, with both moves the team can make and younger guys in the AHL. They also get into the Bruins philosophy on bringing guys up and sending them back down and how players deal with that. Finally, the boys are joined by Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli to discuss EVERYTHING.

The Sunday Skate crew gets the show going discussing the Bruins big, impressive victory over the NY Rangers yesterday. What can you take from that game? According to LB - Lyndon Byers - who called the guys from the road, not a lot. LB drops a dime on what was going on with the Rangers yesterday. DJ and Joe discuss Claude's lines and groupings and the importance of Ryan Spooner. They also get into Lucic, his contributions this year and if he can turn things around.

With early season injuries sidelining Christian Vasquez and Koji Uehara, and Clay Buchholz being named the Opening Day starter, Lou becomes a little apprehensive about his 90 win prediction for this year's Red Sox team.